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Original poster

I'm a postie ask me anything

174 replies

Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 21:08

In light of the two recent thread - postman being a checker fcuker - and - how many parcel are too many. What do you want to ask a postie?

OP posts:
TheCurious0range · 19/12/2025 22:38

Do a higher than expected proportion of your colleagues have alcohol misuse issues? DH was a seasonal postie as a student and said there were lots of people who smelled of alcohol at 4/5am, I had a great uncle who used to use his post round as a pub crawl and a colleague is currently divorcing an abusive alcoholic who is also a postie, wasn't sure if this was widespread or coincidental

Incelebration · 19/12/2025 22:40

Why do your colleagues regularly deliver mail intended for a completely different address - i.e. not even the correct street?

Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:40

CheeseWisely · 19/12/2025 22:36

Where we are (possibly outing) there’s a ‘call & check’ service within the postal service where particularly vulnerable people, usually elderly, are signed up to it and their local post person will knock the door and ask a few questions once a day / week as required, and report any concerns to their carer / family / social services. There have been a few cases where it’s been invaluable as it’s highlighted an urgent need for assistance. I would assume that the postal service in the UK simply don’t have time for this, but what do you think of it as a concept?

ETA it’s a payable service so presumably if it requires extra staffing that’s covered, and all postal workers involved have undergone training and police checks.

Edited

I think that's a lovely idea. I do know that for some people I am the only person they speak to in a day, but time is tight.

OP posts:
Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:41

TheCurious0range · 19/12/2025 22:38

Do a higher than expected proportion of your colleagues have alcohol misuse issues? DH was a seasonal postie as a student and said there were lots of people who smelled of alcohol at 4/5am, I had a great uncle who used to use his post round as a pub crawl and a colleague is currently divorcing an abusive alcoholic who is also a postie, wasn't sure if this was widespread or coincidental

Most of the people I work with drive for the job, so alcohol misuse is not a thing as far as I am aware.

OP posts:
Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:42

Incelebration · 19/12/2025 22:40

Why do your colleagues regularly deliver mail intended for a completely different address - i.e. not even the correct street?

Don't know, sorry.

OP posts:
Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/12/2025 22:48

Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:26

Yes

Show quote history

How is that allowable when royal mail have a service obligation to deliver 6 days a week?!

Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:48

AngryBird6122 · 19/12/2025 22:16

Do you remember people you deliver to often that are super friendly? (i always have a friendly chat with mine and say thank you so much and all that jazz!) or do they all blur into one?

They don't blur. I remember those who are nice and those who are nasty.

OP posts:
Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:49

Allthecoloursoftherainbow4 · 19/12/2025 22:48

How is that allowable when royal mail have a service obligation to deliver 6 days a week?!

Show quote history

The legalities I am not sure of, but it does happen.

OP posts:
PauliesWalnuts · 19/12/2025 22:58

My late mum was a postmaster in a main post office for 30 years. Her PO had a little sorting office included and her staff included all the local postmen as well as the POCounters staff. Given the number of main post offices which have shut over the last decade or so, and business transferred to smaller sub-post offices, where are postmen/women based these days - the main sorting office? Is that where you start your round from?

Also, do you wish postmen/women still had the option of delivering by bicycle?

Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 23:00

PauliesWalnuts · 19/12/2025 22:58

My late mum was a postmaster in a main post office for 30 years. Her PO had a little sorting office included and her staff included all the local postmen as well as the POCounters staff. Given the number of main post offices which have shut over the last decade or so, and business transferred to smaller sub-post offices, where are postmen/women based these days - the main sorting office? Is that where you start your round from?

Also, do you wish postmen/women still had the option of delivering by bicycle?

There is a main sorting office where I am on an industrial estate. Most posties have vans and I think two or three walk from the sorting office. My usual round is about a twenty minute drive from the sorting office.

OP posts:
PigeonsandSquirrels · 19/12/2025 23:01

CheeseWisely · 19/12/2025 22:36

Where we are (possibly outing) there’s a ‘call & check’ service within the postal service where particularly vulnerable people, usually elderly, are signed up to it and their local post person will knock the door and ask a few questions once a day / week as required, and report any concerns to their carer / family / social services. There have been a few cases where it’s been invaluable as it’s highlighted an urgent need for assistance. I would assume that the postal service in the UK simply don’t have time for this, but what do you think of it as a concept?

ETA it’s a payable service so presumably if it requires extra staffing that’s covered, and all postal workers involved have undergone training and police checks.

Edited

Surely that’s something for adult social care to arrange? Post people aren’t trained in managing people and shouldn’t have to…

ClimbingMother · 19/12/2025 23:06

I popped £20 in a xmas card for our postie - hes amazing- wish I could have afforded a bigger tip as hes worth his weight in gold.

I hope all the houses on your route appreciate you just as much - merry Xmas!

Vinculum · 19/12/2025 23:08

This is related to a question above and obviously not something you can answer specifically but I’m curious - who sorts the post for the rounds that you do? Do you do it, or is it given to you ready-sorted for you to take round?

I ask because we share a house name with people who live about 3 miles away in a completely different village, on a different street, with a different postcode, and obviously they have a different name. Yet we regularly get post for them, presumably because the address says 'The Grange' (not the real name obvs). It’s as though whoever sorts the letters looks at the house-name and thinks 'aha!' but fails to see that the postcode, the full address, and our names are totally different. It’s a bit odd tbh.

AnnieLummox · 19/12/2025 23:11

Why, when you can see a house is divided into flats, so you ring again within seconds of the first ring, then bang on the door, then annoy my downstairs neighbours by ringing their bell, instead of thinking “Maybe I’ll give them a second to get down two flights of stairs”?

Actually, that might just be my postman.

Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 23:13

Vinculum · 19/12/2025 23:08

This is related to a question above and obviously not something you can answer specifically but I’m curious - who sorts the post for the rounds that you do? Do you do it, or is it given to you ready-sorted for you to take round?

I ask because we share a house name with people who live about 3 miles away in a completely different village, on a different street, with a different postcode, and obviously they have a different name. Yet we regularly get post for them, presumably because the address says 'The Grange' (not the real name obvs). It’s as though whoever sorts the letters looks at the house-name and thinks 'aha!' but fails to see that the postcode, the full address, and our names are totally different. It’s a bit odd tbh.

Machines sort the post into rounds by postcode, so if the other house is not on the same round the mistake shouldn't happen.

The post gets a tray of the round in round order and then a second tray of larger pieces of post that won't go through the machine.

OP posts:
Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 23:15

AnnieLummox · 19/12/2025 23:11

Why, when you can see a house is divided into flats, so you ring again within seconds of the first ring, then bang on the door, then annoy my downstairs neighbours by ringing their bell, instead of thinking “Maybe I’ll give them a second to get down two flights of stairs”?

Actually, that might just be my postman.

Perhaps the postman doesn't know which flat is upstairs and which is down. Can't really help with specifics of what others do.

OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 19/12/2025 23:16

Is it OK to ogle the postman via the Ring doorbell footage if he doesn't know I'm doing it?

He's a shorts all year round postie and apart from being absolutely beautiful has the most amazing legs.

I have been extremely lucky with posties wherever I've lived. These days the only time things go wrong is when the regular one is on holiday and the one they send to do his round can't count so we all spend a week swapping post with the neighbours as he always delivers the post to houses one off from their actual number.

I do feel very sorry for you all on days it's absolutely pissing it down. It must be bloody miserable out in it for hours.

Original poster
Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 23:18

Boiledbeetle · 19/12/2025 23:16

Is it OK to ogle the postman via the Ring doorbell footage if he doesn't know I'm doing it?

He's a shorts all year round postie and apart from being absolutely beautiful has the most amazing legs.

I have been extremely lucky with posties wherever I've lived. These days the only time things go wrong is when the regular one is on holiday and the one they send to do his round can't count so we all spend a week swapping post with the neighbours as he always delivers the post to houses one off from their actual number.

I do feel very sorry for you all on days it's absolutely pissing it down. It must be bloody miserable out in it for hours.

I think the ogling is for you to consider.

OP posts:
ultracynic · 19/12/2025 23:22

Do you mind doing parcel collections? I have returned a few Amazon items via my postie and it’s a great service, for me. I did ask him about it and he said this is the way it’s going now people don’t send letters as much - they may as well (as a business) earn a bit back by collecting parcels that are on their rounds. But it must be annoying when on foot to have to collect something bulky of heavy.

TroysMammy · 19/12/2025 23:26

Do you think less mail is sent because of the price of stamps? I joined Postcrossing in 2023 when it cost £2.20 to send a postcard abroad but stopped because it now costs £3.40. I correspond with people abroad by email or WhatsApp now which probably causes the price of stamps to be increased.

Myfridgeiscool · 19/12/2025 23:29

My mate in Scotland sent a parcel at 5.38pm on Thursday and it arrived at my house in Essex at 11.30am on Friday.
How did this happen so fast!?
All the parcels have arrived super quickly this week, are the posties all turbo charged for Christmas?

OtherS · 19/12/2025 23:31

How much do you earn? Do you earn the same whether you do 5 days or 4 condensed? Can you earn overtime?

CombatBarbie · 19/12/2025 23:40

Postieonthego · 19/12/2025 22:22

I mean 'no junk mail' on the postbox has no legal power. There is an official process to opt out of junk mail.

I wear trousers unless it is really hot.

Show quote history

Ah not my posty, shes still wearing shorts (and a bobble hat) shes lovely though, and will leave me a message if the parcel is too big for my box and has left it with village shop or my mates place which has an outbuilding.

I think it takes a certain type to be a rural postie.

hardtocare · 19/12/2025 23:45

Why do all the male ones wear shorts even in the snow?

Squiggles23 · 19/12/2025 23:47

Has anyone ever said 'where's your cat? Pat?)' to you?